Violated and vulnerable: women's experiences of contracting a sexually transmitted infection from a male partner

Article


East, Leah, Jackson, Debra and Peters, Kath. 2017. "Violated and vulnerable: women's experiences of contracting a sexually transmitted infection from a male partner." Journal of Clinical Nursing. 26 (15-16), pp. 2342-2352. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13723
Article Title

Violated and vulnerable: women's experiences of contracting a sexually transmitted infection from a male partner

ERA Journal ID14104
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsEast, Leah, Jackson, Debra and Peters, Kath
Journal TitleJournal of Clinical Nursing
Journal Citation26 (15-16), pp. 2342-2352
Number of Pages11
Year2017
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0962-1067
1365-2702
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13723
Web Address (URL)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.13723
Abstract

Aims and objectives
To explore women's stories of contracting a sexually transmitted infection from a male partner and elucidate the gendered constructs and violence experienced that made the women vulnerable to these infections.

Background
Violence against women can result in both physical and psychological consequences and expose women to multiple health risks including sexual health adversity.

Design
Feminist storytelling approach.

Methods
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 women. All data underwent thematic analysis.

Findings
Findings from this study revealed the women were vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infection/s from their male sexual partners as a result of unequal gender and abusive relationship dynamics. Subsequently, contracting a sexual infection within this context potentially increased their vulnerability in both current and future relationships, through their loss of self-confidence and perceived ability to have a trusting loving heterosexual relationship as women with sexually transmitted infection/s.

Conclusion
Women in relationships in which they are subordinate to their male partner are at heightened risk of sexual health adversity, including contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Contracting a sexually transmitted infection within the context of an abusive relationship can further increase women's vulnerability to dominant male partners, thus further exposure to sexual risk and adversity.

Relevance to clinical practice
Nurses working in clinical settings are well placed to conduct opportunistic screening of women's sexual health, including assessment of sexually transmitted infections and the nature of the encounter in which they were contracted. Thorough assessment can potentially identify relationship and personal factors that can increase a woman's risk to both sexual adversity and forms of abuse. Also, if women do divulge that they have suffered abuse, nurses are positioned to provide support and guidance in implementing strategies to minimise risk as well as referring them to specialised services.

Keywordsfeminism; storytelling; intimate partner violence; qualitative study; sexual health; women’s health
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020420599. Nursing not elsewhere classified
Public NotesFile reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of New England
Western Sydney University
Oxford University Hospitals, United Kingdom
Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom
Oxford Institute for Nursing and Allied Health Research (OxINAHR), United Kingdom
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